Title: Madison
Tags:
Blog Entry: CHAPTER 5 November 25, 2014 Because of the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, the next installment of Madison will be on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE Madison had felt the sudden urge to skip down the street in joy. She laughed at the thought of a thirty-five-year old- attorney, wearing a four-thousand-dollar Alexander McQueen business suit, skipping down Wall Street. She ignored the man who looked at her as if she was strange when she laughed. Hurrying down the , she needed to do a million things before Monday. There is no way, Madison Belmont, that you are going to fail. **** Exhausted, Mary said, “Excuse me, Peter, I’m not being very ladylike at the moment.” Discarding his jacket and tie, Peter laughed and joined Mary. “I’m beat,” Mary said. Equally exhausted, Peter replied. “I’ll admit to that. It’s been a week-and-a-half.” They had sat on the sofa drinking tea in Peter’s office at the end of a tense Friday. Mary had won a case earlier in the day, successfully defending a husband from charges filed by a vindictive ex-wife. Stretching her legs and kicking off her shoes, Mary balanced a cup of tea in a bone china cup on her lap. Peter’s deceased wife Lori had purchased the tea set when Peter first opened his office. “So, tell me, Peter. How’s our girl Madison doing? I haven’t seen much of her in the past month.” “Peter sighed to alleviate his own exhaustion and answered, “She’s doing well. Madison has already brought in a couple of small accounts this month. She has spent most of her time back on Wall Street looking for prospects. Right now, she is working on a major client that could bring in several thousand jobs to Hillsdale. Oh, by the way, I’ve appointed Vickie to head up Madison’s support team here in the office, and Heather will be the lead secretary.” Mary sat up straight on the sofa and warned Peter. “Oh, that’s a mistake. Vickie and Heather are sensitive people. They could easily clash with Madison.” “Mary, you know Vickie is the best administrative assistant we have in the office. Heather has been with me a long time. I’m confident,” Peter, added, “they’ll get along fine with Madison.” “I hope you’re right.” Retrieving her shoes and returning her teacup to the granite-topped bar cabinet, Mary asked, “When is Grace coming back from vacation?” Grace Parrish managed the family law division in Peter’s office. Stuffing his tie into his coat pocket as he returned to his desk, Peter answered, “She’ll be back in the office on Monday.” “She’s a special lady,” Mary said wistfully. “I like her.” Smiling Mary added, “You like her too, Peter.” **** Returning to his desk chair with a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline seen through the floor to ceiling windows, Dominic Rowlands said, “My compliments to you, Madison, You have presented a strong argument for our company to expand into the Great Lakes region. Chairman of the manufacturing conglomerate Palmer Group, Dominic had focused most of his attention on expansion into the European and South American markets. “Thank you, Mr. Rowland. I appreciate your confidence in my presentation.” “Please, Dominic.” “Of course, Dominic.” Madison refused to show Dominic her reaction to the prospect of landing a contract that would bring in substantial revenue to Peter’s office. Back ramrod straight, legs positioned off-center, and forearms resting lightly on the arms of the chair, Madison imagined herself equal to him. She was aware Dominic would try to gain control over her, and the outcome of the negotiations. That is not going to happen. Madison said, “I will begin to assemble the additional market demographics and the Ohio Economic Forecast Report when I return to the office.” “Thank you. The information is essential, Madison, to assist my team’s recommendation to me. On a lighter note, my wife and I will soon host our annual cancer benefit. My wife is state chairperson for the Pink Ribbon Challenge. I want you to meet our daughter who runs our South American operations. I speak with no disrespect, Madison, when I tell you that she’s an ice queen like yourself.” TO BE CONTINUED
VIEW FULL VERSION: Link